Margie found her exit by simply sitting on the computer at the end of the day. Here, she has another full-loaded schedule to follow. Saturday 8am - 10am Second Life Time (SLT) is the time Margie attends Coffee & Pajamas Jazz Show at Oasis Island. In real life, it takes place at the place called XS, 1307 North Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland from 11am to 1pm (EST). That is the time she would be working at the Kroger.
Here is how the fully integrated life in Second Life and real life works logistically: Derrick Stewart and Constance Bard, which are not their real names, because everyone in Second Life chooses both a first and last nickname, own the virtual SIM Oasis Island in Second Life. On the island there is a nightclub called Oasis Nightclub. On this imaginary land, it's possible to prerecord radio through a simple encoding system. This means Margie, sitting in her Real Life (RL) home in Memphis, Tennessee in the US, may broadcast her performance into Derrick's in-world club and island.
An average of 30 or more listeners, each from their respective locations, log into Second Life and go to Derrick's virtual venue to listen to Margie's Coffee & Pajamas Jazz Show, mix and mingle with the other attendees and dance using their animated avatars. Oasis Nightclub, part of Oasis Entertainment Group, not only hosts Margie's jazz show, but also has a cadre of excellent DJs that bring an eclectic flavor of music every week to the residents of Second Life (SL).
Margie's childhood dream was being a jazz singer at a small pub in New York City. But right after she graduated from high school she married her high school sweetheart as the trends in that period of time. She had to set aside her dreams to adjust her new role in a new family.
Her folded wings spread out in Second Life. Here she lives in a furnished loft in a beautiful island where the artists and musicians are assembled to live in harmony. The place is nothing like a one-floored rugged house in the middle of the field in the state of Oklahoma where she currently lives her family. Her bank account is filled with linden dollars in SL while she barely pays for living expenses in RL. Living through a Second Life had become a happy element in Margie's life to revive her childhood dreams.
Margie has even got to visit Rome in Second Life, which is the place she wanted to visit next to New York. She was very excited to discover this virtual re-creation of many of the ancient places of Rome, from the Roman Baths to Caligula's Palace to the open marketplace. She could do things she only imagined doing in the real life Rome, like climbing Trajan's column! That was very exciting for her. She also enjoyed a free play at the amphitheater, which was quite cleverly done using text, images and sound. There was action afoot in the chariot races. Margie could also enter the gladiator pit and duke it out with other would-be warriors. She tried sitting in the stands and rendered judgment with a thumbs up or down. She hadn't visited the real Rome, but she was well satisfied just by taking a glimpse of the country through Second Life.
This Tuesday at 12 pm Second Life time, Margie was called to be asked to visit her friend's cooking show. It will be held in the Placa Real SIM, The Second Life replica of the famous Placa Real of Barcelona. Margie's friend Diez, chef of L'Arrel del Born, will reveal the secrets behind the preparation of one of his favorite dishes at The Cafe. The show will consist of Diez's narrative and a slide show. The featured recipe will be Skrei Cod over black Cuttlefish rice. According to Diez, the step-by-step lesson will be released exclusively in the virtual world, but the final result will be able to be tasted in L'Arrel del Born, the real restaurant located in El Born, a fashionable neighborhood of Barcelona.
Margie and Diez used to be the best friends in high school. Diez was an exchange student from Barcelona and she always wanted to be the world's best chef. Margie is glad to hear Diez's debut show. Although Margie can't be at the Barcelona to taste the meal, she will support her old friend while learning his Catalan dish in Second Life. Margie's children might appreciate the little variety given on the dinner table.
Then this Sunday Margie is going to try something that she never gave a shot and still won't in real life. Margie has not participated in any kind of fundraising event so far especially when they are the events that require participation in physical activities. She is just not fond of spending her day off with perspiration. This Sunday 9 in the morning SLT's Fight Hunger: Walk the World event will take place. She was informed that the event is organized by The UN World Food Programme every year to draw attention to the problem of famine and hunger around the world. Now avatars in Second Life can also participate to support the needy. Margie thinks it wouldn't hurt to participate since it doesn't require much of her physical strength. She will show up at the gathering point Dragon Moons Resort and make a donation.
Margie's linden dollars are adding up in her bank account. She is saving the money for a purpose. She is going to buy a silver convertible Toyota that has just been released. Owning a car like that in real life will take her way longer, but it only took Margie 4 months to save two thirds of what she needs to buy the car. She can't wait till she drives the silver convertible along the shore of the island where her avatar lives.
Margie's days are filled with hopes, excitement, and energy. Anything she wants and has sought to have throughout her life can be hopeful. There is no limit for Margie in Second Life. She is willing to continuously try out the things she wasn't able to try before.
